Horticultural Crops, Coos County Extension Service

Horticultural Crops in Coos and Curry Counties

Coos County

Nursery horticultural crops grow well here. Nurseries produce a variety of plants including rhododendrons, dahlias, ornamental grasses and bedding plants. The Coos and Curry OSU Master Gardener™ groups can provide experienced, research based advice and information for gardeners. These groups can be reached through the Coos or Curry Extension offices. Retail garden centers, nurseries, landscape architects and contractors, and local garden writers are also a good reference source. Miscellaneous horticultural crops include garlic, blueberries, and small vegetable/orchard truck gardens.

Curry County

Major horticultural crops are Easter lily bulbs, cranberries, blueberries, hydrangeas, dahlias, cut flowers and dried floral products. The Harbor-Brookings bench of Southwest Curry County and the Smith River area of Northwest Del Norte County, CA produces over 95% of all bulbs grown for the potted Easter Lily market.

In 2007 about 200 acres of lily bulbs were harvested in Curry County, a decrease from 200 acres in 2003. The industry employees about 200-225 people during the growing season.

The soils and climate in the Brookings-Harbor area are a perfect combination for lily production. About 11 million Easter lily bulbs were shipped from Curry and Del Norte to commercial greenhouses in the United States and Canada in 2007.